Len Deighton

Leonard Cyril Deighton (born February 18, 1929) is a British historian and author of spy fiction and historical novels.

Related Topics:
February 18 - 1929 - British - Author - Spy fiction - Historical novel

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Several of his novels have been adapted for films. His first four novels featured an unnamed hero, which in the movie versions was dubbed "Harry Palmer" and was played by Michael Caine. The first trilogy of his Bernard Samson series was made into a 12-part television series by Granada Television and shown in 1988. He wrote the screenplay for the 1969 film of the play Oh! What a Lovely War.

Related Topics:
Film - Harry Palmer - Michael Caine - Television series - Granada Television - 1988 - Screenplay - 1969 - Play - Oh! What a Lovely War

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His 1970 World War II historical novel Bomber about an RAF Bomber Command raid over Germany is often considered his masterpiece.

Related Topics:
1970 - World War II - Bomber - RAF Bomber Command - Germany

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In 1949 Deighton began attending art school and in 1952 won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art, graduating in 1955. He then worked as an airline steward with BOAC. Before he began his writing career he worked as an illustrator in New York and, in 1960, as an art director in a London advertising agency. He has since used his drawing skills to illustrate a number of his own military history books.

Related Topics:
1949 - 1952 - Scholarship - Royal College of Art - 1955 - Airline steward - BOAC - New York - 1960 - London - Advertising agency - Military history

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Deighton has also published a series of cookery books and drew a weekly illustrated cooking guide in The Observer.

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To cash in on the success of Deighton's first four "Harry Palmer" novels, he wrote Len Deighton's London Dossier (1967), a guide book to Swinging Sixties London with a "secret agent" theme — contributions from other writers are described as "surveillance reports".

Related Topics:
Len Deighton's London Dossier - 1967 - Swinging Sixties

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